SAN FRANCISCO (GenomeWeb) – By sequencing the immune repertoires of more than 600 individuals, Adaptive Biotechnologies was able to identify a set of T cell receptor sequences associated with cytomegalovirus exposure. Those T cell receptor sequences were present at elevated levels in individuals exposed to the virus and absent in those who were not exposed.

The discovery and the new tech will be important for scientists developing CAR-T immunotherapies, treatments that reprogram a person’s T-cells to fight cancer.

The tech was developed by Seattle-based Adaptive Biotechnologies, and it assigns a “barcode” to each T-cell based on the kind of T-cell receptor (TCR) it has. This allows researchers to track different kinds of T-cells in the lab and in patients’ bodies.

Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America ranked Adaptive Biotechnologies as #204 overall, 37th in the Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical category, and in the top ten for Washington state. Adaptive made the list by growing a whopping 408 percent during this period!

A new test is changing cancer treatment and has implications for other illnesses, too.

After a young man with acute leukemia was treated successfully with traditional chemotherapy, he found himself facing a tough decision. He could stay on chemo and face the high risk of relapse associated with his particular disease, or he could undergo a blood or bone marrow transplant, which would offer the best chance of a cure but put him at risk for severe complications.